Britain has backed the strike with a spokeswoman for PM Theresa May saying: "The UK Government fully supports the US action, which we believe was an appropriate response to the barbaric chemical weapons attack launched by the Syrian regime, and is intended to deter further attacks."

REUTERS

FIRE: A Tomahawk cruise missile is launched from a US destroyer

The missiles were fired from two US destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean.

They struck several targets at the Shayrat Air Base – including the airstrip, aircraft and fuel stations – near Homs at 12.40am GMT.

Six people were killed and seven wounded in the strikes, according to the governor of Homs. Nine planes were also destroyed, with images showing craters on runways.

Defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon has said he "does not see a future for Assad" but added that the strikes are not being treated as the start of a "new military campaign".

AFP

LOCATION: A map showing the air base and the site of the chemical attack in Syria

US launch cruise missile strike against Syria

The US has fired dozens of cruise missiles at Syria in revenge for a chemical weapons attack – despite a warning from Russia not to get involved.

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AFP/Getty

The US has fired dozens of cruise missiles at Syria in revenge for a chemical weapons attack –

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has called on the UK to go further

He said: "The British Government, rather than just putting out a bland statement welcoming this, should now follow it up and call an emergency meeting of the Nato alliance to see what else can be done, be that more surgical strikes or no fly zones.

"Evil happens when good people do nothing. We cannot sit by while a dictator gasses his own people. We cannot stand by, we must act."

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a renowned pacifist, has condemned the strikes, saying that they "risk escalating the war in Syria still further".

This is despite many of his own MPs urging for the party to support Trump's action.

The attack pits the US against Russia – which is supporting ally Assad in the country’s bloody civil war.

The US told a number of countries it was planning the attack in advance – but not Russia.

If Washington and Moscow end up on opposite sides, the conflict could spill over into World War 3.

When asked about possible US strikes in Syria, Russia’s deputy UN envoy Vladimir Safronkov said: “Think about the negative consequences."

AFP

DEATH FROM ABOVE: The rockets meant US aircraft don't have to fly in Syrian airspace

“We have to think about negative consequences”

Vladimir Safronkov

Safronkov raised the spectre of Iraq and Libya – which both descended into chaos after military action by the US and Britain.

He said: "We have to think about negative consequences, negative consequences, and all the responsibility if military action occurred will be on shoulders of those who initiated such doubtful and tragic enterprise.

"Look at Iraq, look at Libya."

GETTY

BLAST OFF: The cruise missile lights up the night sky

Trump has said "something should happen" to Assad after the poison gas attack in Idlib province.

The Donald seems prepared to ditch his good relations with Putin after watching videos of the child victims dying of suspected sarin gas poisoning.